That Was a Year

Lyrics

[MAMA MIZNER, spoken] Addie, look at this, your brother's in the prize fight business! [WILLIE] Kid How you doin'? Stanley Ketchel, fighting Sailor Boy MacKenzie for the title For the middleweight crown We bought his contract for a measly fifty thousand [STANLEY KETCHEL] Hiya, Willie! Just great! [MRS. YERKES] Who's there? For the title? We did? Remind me, when exactly did we find- [STANLEY, spoken] I'd just like to say thank you to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to my sainted mother, may she rest in peace, and most of all to the greatest manager a fighter ever had: Willie Mizner! (sung) Willie had style Willie had brass Willie said "Stan, I'm gonna give you some class" Taught me to dress Made me a sport Gave me social status, and something to snort Learned a lot from Willie; havin' laughs, gettin' tight Coked 'til we were silly by the dawn's early light Learned so much from Willie I forgot how to fight! But, oh, what a year That was a year! [WILLIE] God, I love this town! Don't you love this town? It's got all of these Opportunities Can't afford to turn them down Some may not work out Some go up the spout Many more around the corner And what's waitin' 'round the corner Isn't that what life is all about? [ADDIE MIZNER, spoken] (He is talking on the phone.) I know you're busy, Willie, I read the papers. But Mama thought she was gonna see you Sunday, and she- ...this Sunday? You're sure? [MAMA, spoken] Addie, you won't believe it: your brother's written a Broadway play! [PAUL ARMSTRONG] Willie had wit Willie had brains Willie had contacts in the lower domains Knew how they lived Knew what they'd say That's why I said, "Willie, let's right a play!" But where the hell was Willie came the time to rewrite? Way the hell in Philly, off promoting some fight Half a play with Willie closes opening night! But, oh, what a year That was a year! [MRS. YERKES, spoken] You're saying I invested in this play? [WILLIE] God, I love it here Don't you love it here? Every place you look Is an open book Every street a new frontier If you sizzle, swell! If you fizzle, well, nothing fails for long If it doesn't fly, it doesn't And it's time to sing another song [ENSEMBLE] Broadway Willie Prince of bon vivants Everybody wants Broadway Willie Mizner! Not some silly Low-lifes and DuPonts Cops and debutantes... [ADDIE, spoken] (He is on the phone again.) You didn't make it last Sunday, or the Sunday before, Willie. What makes you think you're gonna make it this- Fine. I'll tell her [MAMA, spoken] Look at this picture, dear, your brother kissing a racehorse! [JOCKEY] Willie and me, we had a run Doing some things we shouldn't of done 'Til we get rumbled for some race we tried to fix Willie says, "Kid, I'm your support Let me explain things to the court" So he explains and beats the rap And I get sent up for six! [ARMSTRONG] Now I write a show It doesn't get on [KETCHEL] Offer me some dough I dive like a swan [JOCKEY] Once I was a pro And now I'm a con! But, oh, what a year! [ARMSTRONG & KETCHEL] That was a year! [WILLIE] From the mayor to the cop on the beat Who's the only guy they all wanna meet? Who's the man they call the king of the street? [ENSEMBLE] Good time Willie Mizner! When you write about New Yorkers of note Who's the wittiest by popular vote? Always ready with a quip or a quote! [WILLIE, spoken] Be nice to the people you meet on the way up... 'cause they're the same people you're gonna meet on the way down! [ENSEMBLE] Night club fillies Writers, racketeers Everybody cheers Good time Willie Mizner! Ziegfeld lilies Pimps and financiers- [MRS. YERKES] Willie had style Willie had gall Willie had ladies 'round the block and down the hall Perfect in looks Perfect at sex Not so goddamn perfect at forging my checks! [JOCKEY] Sure I lost the crown, but I made lots of green [ARMSTRONG] Sure, he took his time, but We wrote a great scene [KETCHEL] I was voted biggest wit In cell block eighteen! [JOCKEY, ARMSTRONG, & KETCHEL] Thanks to Willie Mizner! Nimble Willie Mizner! [KETCHEL] Sharp as a hawk [ARMSTRONG] Cock of the walk [MRS. YERKES, spoken] You're tellin' me... [JOCKEY] King of Noo Yawk! [ALL] Stick around with Willie You run out of luck Stick around with Willie You feel like a cluck Stick around with Willie You're gonna get stuck! But you'll get a year- [KETCHEL] Maybe ten to twenty [ALL] You'll have a year! [MRS. YERKES] One was more than plenty! [ALL] You'll have the time Of your life! [WILLIE] God, I love this town! [ALL] Broadway Willie: King of New York!